How to Stay Safe When Traveling by Car on a Road Trip

Warmer weather is just around the corner and that means one thing: road trips! But before you hit the open road, there are a few things you need to do to make sure your trip is as safe as possible. Here are nine tips to help you stay safe while traveling by car.

Make Sure Your Car Is Ready For The Trip

The last thing you want is for your car to break down in the middle of nowhere, so it’s important to check that everything is running smoothly before heading out. This includes checking all fluid levels (e.g., oil, transmission fluid, coolant), belts, hoses, and tires (including the spare). Just to be safe, take him to a general inspection to ensure he passes with flying colors and ask your mechanic to check over your car’s key systems (i.e., brakes, steering, suspension).

Get Plenty Of Rest Before You Hit The Road

One of the best ways to stay safe while on the road is to make sure you’re well-rested before setting out. When you sleep at least 8 hours a night, your body releases endorphins, which help improve your mood and alertness. You should also make sure you’re well-hydrated before hitting the road to avoid drowsiness.

Keep in mind that you might feel drowsy after a long day of driving even if you’re well-rested and that there’s only so much caffeinated beverages can do to help. Driving while tired is extremely dangerous because it slows your reaction time and reduces your physical coordination, which only increases the probability that you’ll get involved in an accident.

Pack A First Aid Kit And Other Essentials

If you break down in the middle of nowhere or are involved in an accident, it’s important that you have a first aid kit and other items that can help you stay safe until assistance arrives. You should pack extra clothes, especially socks and underwear, in case the accident renders your clothing unusable.

To save space in your car, choose a backpack when packing this kit. Make sure it has compartments to keep each item separated when needed and use plastic bags to organize your items.

Have the necessary contacts at hand

This is one of the most important tips we can give you. Keep the phone numbers of roadside assistance, hospitals, and police stations in your cell phone address book so they’ll be easy to find when needed. Keep a lawyer’s number as well since some accidents will require you to have one. There is a lot of them online offering their services like auto accident lawyer Alan Belsky who can help you when you end up being in a car accident. It’s also best to keep the phone numbers of family members and emergency contacts.

Avoid Driving At Night

If you can, avoid driving during the night because it’s a lot more dangerous than daytime driving. Statistics show that roughly half of all accidents happen during this time and that those involved in these types of crashes are three times as likely to end up injured or dead because their visibility is greatly reduced at night.

If you’re driving at night, make sure your car is equipped with headlights and taillights that are in working order. Keep in mind that foggy days cause reduced visibility as well, so either avoid these conditions when possible or slow down to compensate for them.

Drive With A Co-Pilot

Driving alone can be dangerous enough, but if you’re driving with a co-pilot that’s at least as awake and alert as you are, it can make your trip safer. When driving with a passenger, make sure they don’t distract you by talking excessively or reaching out to adjust the radio or air conditioner controls.

You should also avoid driving with your pet at the wheel because they might jump on you or bark in response to car horns or other loud outside noises. If you really want to bring your dog with you, it’s best to let him ride in the passenger seat so that he can get more accustomed to the environment.

Avoid Distractions While Driving

Don’t drive if you’re distracted by thoughts of an argument with your spouse, phone calls and texts you need to return, or other things that pose a risk to your driving ability. Remember that even “safer” distractions like eating, drinking coffee, smoking cigarettes, reading books/maps/directional guides are all dangerous since they take your focus away from the road.

If you know that you’re especially prone to distractions, as soon as your trip begins, set a mental “distraction budget” and tell yourself that you can’t spend more than X minutes doing anything but driving until you reach your destination. Make it a point not to exceed this time limit.

Don’t drive under the influence of drugs or alcohol

If you’ve been smoking marijuana, taking prescription pills, drinking beer, etc., don’t get behind the wheel of your car. Your reaction time and physical coordination are greatly reduced when under the influence of any substance that alters your state of mind. Even if a drug or drink has no effect on a certain person’s ability to drive, it’s still best to be safe, so avoid taking medicine or smoking anything before hopping in the driver’s seat.

Communicate With Other Drivers

You don’t have to be Mr./Miss Popularity on your road trip, but try not to alienate other drivers with rude gestures like flipping them off or giving them the finger. If you need to pass them, flash your lights or honk the horn so they know you’re coming.

As much as possible, try not to speed or tailgate other drivers either because these two actions are usually signs of disapproval and could trigger anger in whoever’s driving the car behind you. Remember that everyone on the road is just trying to get to their destination safely, so try to respect other people’s opinions even if you don’t agree with them.

The tips provided in this article can help you stay safe while traveling by car on a road trip. Remember to have your headlights and taillights in working order, avoid distractions while driving, communicate with other drivers when possible, fill up on gas when the tank reaches half full rather than waiting until it’s empty or the indicator light comes on, don’t drink alcohol before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle (even if it doesn’t seem like it affects you), and try not to alienate others with rude gestures. These are all important safety measures that will make sure everyone gets where they need to go safely!

The post How To Stay Safe While Traveling By Car On A Road Trip appeared first on Travel Experta - Travel, Lifestyle, Freedom.

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By: Marina Villatoro
Title: How To Stay Safe While Traveling By Car On A Road Trip
Sourced From: travelexperta.com/how-to-stay-safe-while-traveling-by-car-on-a-road-trip/
Published Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2022 23:23:30 +0000

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